Glendora’s Jacob Gonzalez look to pass against Damien during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Damien’s Justin Ponce (33) is congratulated by his team after scoring a touchdown against Glendora during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Glendora’s Xzavier Ford is stopped in his tracks as he tries to run through Damien’s defense during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

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Glendora’s Xzavier Ford fights for yards as he’s dragged onto the ground during the football season opener against Damien at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Damien’s Justin Ponce carries the ball into the end zone to score against Glendora during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Damien’s Jermaine Barner, left, is dragged to the ground by Glendora’s Cade Marshman during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Damien’s Jermaine Barner, center, searches for an opening in Glendora’s defense to run through during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Damien’s Jordan Barton scans the field for an open teammate during the football season opener against Glendora at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Glendora’s Jacob Gonzalez (7) looks on as a Damien player is tended to by medical staff during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Damien’s Tony Ovalles Jr. (12) tries to push away from Glendora’s Patrick Golden during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Glendora players watch video of the previous drive during the football season opener against Damien at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Glendora charges onto the field to take on Damien in the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Damien’s Chase Carter (43) races through Glendora defense during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Glendora faces off against Damien in the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Damien High School’s marching band performs the National Anthem before the football season opener against Glendora at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Glendora’s Matt Gonzalez (16) celebrates with Jeff Isenhart (52) after Gonzalez scored a touchdown against Damien during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Glendora’s Cade Marshman, right, races past Damien’s Roman Toilolo during the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Damien runs onto the field to take on Glendora in the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Glendora charges onto the field to take on Damien in the football season opener at Damien High School in La Verne, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Bechtel, who won a CIF-SS championship last season at South Hills High School, a graduate of Damien, was brought in to inject excitement and energy into the program.

Tartans quarterback Jacob Gonzalez turned in an effective performance as he completed 10 of 15 passes for 148 yards. Gonzalez also clinched the victory for the Tartans as he scampered 28 yards for a touchdown with 4:02 left in the game.

Running back Xzavier Ford showed off his punishing running skills, carrying the ball 23 times for a game-high 85 yards. Cade Marshman was the leading receiver for Glendora, hauling in six passes for 61 yards. Damien’s Chase Carter was the leading rusher, carrying the ball 14 times for 46 yards.

Damien’s Jacob Barton was the starting quarterback for the Spartans and did an effective job in the first half, completing 7 of 13 passes for 92 yards with a touchdown. He was replaced in the third period by Dylan Gutierrez, with Bechtel deciding to give each quarterback an opportunity to run his no-huddle offense.

The Spartan offense got off to a fast start as it put together an impressive 17-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with Barton connecting with Justin Ponce on a 3-yard touchdown pass on fourth-down-and-goal for a 7-0 lead.

Glendora tied the game at 7-7 when Gonzalez, who is committed to playing baseball at the University of Mississippi, connected with Matt Gonzales for a 23-yard touchdown pass in the early stages of the second quarter.

The same combination struck again on a 17-yard touchdown pass with 1:12 remaining in the second quarter that gave the Tartans their first lead of the game at 14-7.

Meanwhile, the Spartan offense was held in check after the successful opening drive with Barton getting sacked three times in the second quarter. Kicker Ben D’Aquila missed on a 35-yard field goal attempt late in the period.

After the teams exchanged possessions to start the third quarter, Jake Peralta capped a 12-play drive by connecting on a 33-yard field in the final stages of the third quarter that gave Glendora a 17-7 lead.

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